04 Aug HOW TO SUPPORT THE WIFE AND CHILD OF A FALLEN SOLDIER

Case description:

Olena’s husband, Vasyl, recently suffered a terrible loss—his comrade-in-arms died 4 months ago. The comrade’s widow, a young woman who had already lost a child to leukemia 8 years ago, now finds herself in the abyss of grief again. She has withdrawn into herself, unable to find the strength to live on and take care of her son. Vasyl feels helpless. He has tried to support the widow, calling her, but sees that his words do not reach her heart. Their six-year-old son is also suffering greatly from the loss of his father, refusing to socialize with his peers or spend time outside. The widow and her son do not want to see a psychologist, having tried this help before without success. Olena has turned to us for advice, wanting to find a way to help the widow of her husband’s fellow soldier, understand where to start the conversation, and how to support the family in their time of loss.

Advice from project experts:

Direct contact between Olena and the widow can be challenging. Since Olena has not experienced the same loss, her attempts at support may be misunderstood. During a period of acute grief, people often need solitude to process their feelings.

We recommend that the widow join a self-help group. This would give her the opportunity to communicate with people who have experienced similar losses, offering understanding, empathy, and the exchange of experiences in overcoming grief. We can help you find contacts for such a group.

It is also important to support Vasyl. He should receive psychological help as his own experience of loss may affect his ability to support others.